Area officials surveyed the damage after a storm dropped 2 to 3 inches of water within an hour and 15 minutes after 4 p.m., according to National Weather Service estimates. Repairs and cleanup is expected to last much longer.

PLAIN TOWNSHIP

Trustees in hard-hit Plain Township were among those visiting damage sites after the storm. Chaucer Drive NE between York Street and Englewood Drive was impassable because of flooding that crumbled the foundation of two nearby houses.

“We haven’t had flooding like this in 10 years,” Trustee Louis Giavasis said.

Some residents near the intersection of York Street NE avoided water damage but watched the water rise on mailboxes “to where they put in the mail,” said Holly Tolley.

Chad Guist, who lives next door, said the area has flooded before but only to levels about half those seen Monday. The rain “was just pouring buckets” in the 45 minutes it took to fill his yard.

“The trash can was floating,” his 10-year-old son Tanner said. “All the trash fell out.”

Deputy Chief Chuck Shalenberger said a house in the 3000 block of Chaucer Drive NE and a house in the 5700 block of Linder Circle NE, which also had a gas main break, were evacuated because of foundation damage. Neither house was in immediate damage of collapsing.

“As long as we dont get any rain, I think we’ll be OK,” he said Monday night.

The Road Department garage a few blocks north on Easton Street NE also flooded. The Fire Department likely responded to 25 or more flooded basements in all, Shalenberger said.

CANTON

Mayor William J. Healy II and City Council members Bill Smuckler, D-at-large, Edmond Mack, D-8, and David Dougherty, D-5, were called away from council’s meeting Monday as calls from constituents and city workers poured in. They encountered residents who had raw sewage backed up into their homes, cars floating in high water and severe road damage in places.

Smuckler arrived to the meeting in jeans soaked to the knees after helping one woman and her child escape from her car, which had become trapped in high water.

“Her car was still floating there when I left her,” he said, noting how he drove the woman to a nearby gas station. “I was in shock. The water was up to my knees, but these people are trying to take these little cars and drive them through this water.”

Plain Center Avenue NE, which runs between 55th Street and Martindale Road NE, appears to be one of the hardest hit areas.

Mack said Plain Center Avenue will need to be repaved immediately.

“The asphalt was lifted off like a sheet of paper,” he said. “It was already in need of attention. It’s just completely demolished. There’s no escaping that we’re going to have to repave it immediately.”

“Most of the issues were with drainage because there was so much debris that came through,” Healy said. “It just clogged everything. ... It was so much water at one time. It was well beyond what the system is capable of handling. There are several houses that have flooded basements.”

COUNTYWIDE

In North Canton, two vehicles were caught in rising water — one in the 1000 block of S. Main Street and the other in the 900 block of Easthill Street SE. Sgt. Douglas Cardwell said both roads were closed for 30 to 40 minutes.

“The cars were towed out of the high water and then it just recided on its own,” he said.

Sgt. James Tedrick of the county sheriff’s department also reported multiple vehicles stranded in the water, though no trapped occupants or injuries.

Tim Warstler, director of the Emergency Management Agency whose offices on Atlantic Boulevard also flooded, was assessing the damage Monday evening. He had received multiple reports of damaged houses throughout Louisville and the townships of Nimishillen and Plain.

“We know of multiple homes with basement flooding,” he said.

Warstler said the county agency updated the Ohio Emergency Management Agency about the situation and would see if state or federal resources would be needed.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323

On Twitter: @kbyerREP

Reach Matt at 330-580-8527

On Twitter: @mrinkREP

Send storm damage photos

To starkEMA@starkcountyohio.gov with the subject line “flooding” to help Stark County Emergency Management Agency assess damage.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.